02 - Part 2, Canon of Scripture · The$Doctrine$of$Holy$Scripture:$Its$Canon$$ Version$1.0$...

The$Doctrine$of$Holy$Scripture:$Its$Canon$$ Version$1.0$

Robert'Gonzales,'Jr.' Page'1' 11/28/14'

PART%TWO:%THE%CANON%OF%SCRIPTURE%(1.253)%

English(Text( Spanish(Version(

§"2!Under!the!name!of!Holy!Scripture,!or!the!Word!of!God!written,!are!now!contained!all!the!books!of!the!Old!and!New!Testaments,!which!are!these:!!

[Listed!are!the!names!of!the!thirtyBnine!books!of!the!Old!Testament!and!the!twentyBseven!books!of!the!New.]!

All!of!which!are!given!by!the!inspiration!of!God,!to!be!the!rule!of!faith!and!life.5!!

§"3!The!books!commonly!called!Apocrypha,!not!being!of!divine!inspiration,!are!no!part!of!the!canon!or!rule!of!the!Scripture,!and,!therefore,!are!of!no!authority!to!the!church!of!God,!nor!to!be!any!otherwise!approved!or!made!use!of!than!other!human!writings.6!!

1.2!Bajo!el!nombre!de!la!Santa!Escritura,!o!la!Palabra!de!Dios!escrita,!están!y!contenidos!todos!los!libros!del!Antiguo!y!Nuevo!Testamento,!que!son!éstos:!!

[A!continuación!están!los!nombres!de!los!treinta!y!nueve!libros!del!Antiguo!Testamento!y!los!vientisiete!del!Nuevo.]!!

Todos!ellos!fueron!dados!por!inspiración!de!Dios!para!ser!la!regla!de!fe!y!de!vida.!!

1.3!Los!libros!comunmente!llamados!Apócrifos,!no!siendo!de!inspiración!divina,!no!forman!parte!del!canon!o!regla!de!la!Escritura!y,!por!tanto,!no!tienen!autoridad!para!la!Iglesia!de!Dios,!ni!deben!aceptarse!ni!usarse!excepto!de!la!misma!manera!que!otros!escritos!humanos.!!

5

(1(Tim(3:16((6

(Luke(24:27,(44;(Rom(3:2(

Sections(two(and(three(of(chapter(one(address(the(“identity”(of(

Scripture(or,(what(is(commonly(called(“the(canon.”(The(term(canon(

comes(from(a(Greek(word((kanw¿n; kanon),(which(referred(to(a(rod(used(for(measurement.

1

(The(term(is(also(used(metaphorically(for(

doctrinal(or(ethical(norms((Gal.(6:16).(As(far(as(we(know,(the(first(

church(father(to(apply(the(term(to(Scripture(was(Athanasius,(the(great(

Trinitarian(theologian.(Athanasius,(as(a(pastor,(became(concerned(that(

certain(heretics(were(including(some(nonOinspired(books(among(the(

books(of(Holy(Scripture.(Therefore,(in(the(year(A.D.(367,(he(wrote(a(

letter(to(his(fellow(bishops,(in(which(he(said:(

It(seemed(good(to(me(also,(having(been(stimulated(thereto(by(true(

brethren,(to(set(forth(in(order(the(books(which(are(included(in(the(

canon(and(have(been(delivered(to(us(with(accreditation(that(they(

are(divine.2

(

1

(The(Greek(was(probably(derived(from(the(Hebrew(term(קנה((qnh),(which(means(“reed,”(and(it(gave(rise(to(the(Latin(canna(and(English(“cane.”(

2

(St.(Athanasius:(Select(Works(and(Letters,(vol.(4(of(The(“ThirtyOninth(Festal(Letter”(in(The(

Nicene(and(PostONicene(Fathers,(ed.(Philip(Schaff(and(Henry(Wace((Albany,(Oregon:(AGES(

Software,(1997),(second(series,(IV,(p.(1275((Festal(Letter(39:3).(Hereafter(abbreviated(as(

NPCF.(



Following(this(statement,(Athanasius(identifies(those(books(that(

constitute(the(Hebrew(Old(Testament(and(those(books(that(constitute(

the(Greek(New(Testament.3

(“These,”(he(says,(“are(the(fountains(of(

salvation(….(Let(no(man(add(to(these,(neither(let(him(take(ought(from(

these.”4

(After(this,(Athanasius(identifies(certain(apocryphal(books,(

which(should(not(be(included(in(the(canon.(Concerning(these,(he(says,(

They(are(an(invention(of(heretics,(who(write(them(when(they(

choose,(bestowing(upon(them(their(approbation,(and(assigning(to(

them(a(date,(that(so,(using(them(as(ancient(writings,(they(may(find(

occasion(to(lead(astray(the(simple.5

(

The(framers(of(our(Confession(shared(Athanasius’(concern.(They(

wanted(the(people(of(God(to(drink(from(the(“fountains(of(salvation,”(

not(from(the(poisonous(writings(of(false(teachers(and(heretics.(

Therefore,(it(was(important(for(them(to(identify(those(sacred(writings(

that(constitute(the(inspired(revelation(of(the(one(true(God—the(canon(

of(Holy(Scripture.((

This(need(to(identify(the(canon(of(Scripture(was(especially(

heightened(by(Rome’s(official(inclusion(of(the(apocryphal(books(into(

the(Old(Testament(canon.(In(1546(the(Council(of(Trent(decreed(that(

the(Church(of(Rome(“receives(and(venerates(with(an(equal(affection(of(

piety(and(reverence”(not(only(the(books(of(the(Jewish(canon(but(also(

several(apocryphal(works.6

(Moreover,(a(few(of(the(Reformers,(

particularly,(Luther(and(Zwingli,(questioned(the(canonicity(of(some(of(

the(soOcalled(New(Testament(antilegomena.(Luther,(for(example,(placed(Hebrews(and(James(together(with(Jude(and(Revelation(at(the(

end(of(his(1522(German(translation(and,(thereby,(seemed(to(accord(

them(a(kind(of(“deuteroOcanonical”(status.(

The(Westminster(Assembly(divines(followed(the(majority(

Protestant(view.(With(the(Jews,(the(Protestants(rejected(the(

3

(NPCF,(second(series,(IV,(pp.(1275O76.(Athanasius(lists(all(the(Old(and(New(Testament(

books(in(our(present(canon(except(the(book(of(Esther,(which(he(includes(with(Wisdom(of(

Solomon,(Wisdom(of(Sirach,(Judith(and(Tobit(as(books(worthy(of(esteem,(but(not(canonical(

status.(

4

(Ibid.,(1276.(

5

(Ibid.,(1276.(

6

(See(Schaff,(Creeds!of!Christendom,(2:80O81.(The(apocryphal(books(listed(include(Tobias,(Judith,(Wisdom(of(Solomon,(Ecclesiasticus,(Baruch,(First(and(Second(Maccabeus.((



apocryphal(books(as(part(of(the(Old(Testament(canon.(And(the(

majority(of(Protestants(agreed(with(the(Eastern(Orthodox(and(the(

Roman(Catholic(communions(on(the(parameters(of(the(New(Testament(

canon.(This(is(reflected(in(such(Protestant(symbols(as(the(Belgic(

Confession(and(the(ThirtyONine(Articles,(each(of(which(enumerate(all(

sixtyOsix(books(of(the(Bible.7

(Such(is(the(historical(background(of(

sections(two(and(three(in(the(Confession.((

Can(one(make(a(biblical(case(for(the(canon(summarized(on(the(

Confession?(Below(I(attempt(to(provide(some(reasons(and(arguments(

for(viewing(the(thirtyOnine(books(of(the(Old(Testament(and(the(

twentyOseven(books(of(the(New(Testament(as(an(organic(body(of(

writings(that(are(inspired(by(God(and,(therefore,(canonical.8

(Moreover,(

I(attempt(to(offer(some(reasons(why(Protestants(reject(the(apocryphal(

books(as(part(of(the(Old(Testament(canon.((

THE$INSPIRED$CANON$OF$THE$OLD$TESTAMENT$

Proposition:(the(39(books(of(the(Old(Testament(as(an(organic(body(

of(writings(are(inspired(of(God(and(are,(therefore,(canonical.9

(

7

(These(two(confessions(also(include(a(list(of(the(apocryphal(books(and(commend(them(

providing(helpful(instruction(so(far(as(they(agree(with(the(canonical(books.(In(contrast,(the(

WCF(doesn’t(bother(to(list(the(books(and(doesn’t(accord(them(any(higher(religious(status(than(

other(nonOinspired(religious(writings.((

8

(By(referring(to(the(Old(and(New(Testaments(as(“an(organic(body(of(writings,”(I’m(

highlighting(two(basic(characteristics(of(our(Bible.(The(term(“organic”(conveys(the(two(ideas(

of(development(and(relationship.(The(books(of(the(Bible(did(not(fall(out(of(heaven(all(at(once(in(

completed(form.(There(was,(rather,(a(process(of(development(and(growth(that(took(place(over(

a(long(period(of(time.(First(came(the(Law(of(Moses,(the(Pentateuch,(the(Prophets,(the(Psalms(

and(other(OT(writings.(Then,(came(the(NT(writings.(The(process(of(growth(and(development(

characterizes(the(Bible,(as(a(body(of(writings.(Furthermore,(the(books(of(the(Bible(are(all(

closely(related(to(one(another.(These(are(not(66(unrelated(books.(Although(they(were(written(

over(several(hundred(years,(they(all(contribute(to(the(same(basic(theme:(God’s(redemption(of(

mankind.(And(though(many(different(human(authors(wrote(them,(they(ultimately(have(the(

same(author.(The(Holy(Spirit(is(the(ultimate(author(of(all(Scripture.(In(this(sense,(the(writings(

of(the(Old(and(New(Testaments(are(“an(organic(body(of(writings.”(The(organic(unity(of(

Scripture(and(its(importance(for(the(doctrine(of(the(canon(of(Scripture(is(further(developed(by(

Samuel(Waldron,(Prolegomena!to!Systematic!Theology!2:!Doctrine!of!the!Word((unpublished(manuscript),(105O13.(Waldron(draws(from(both(Abraham(Kuyper,(Principles!of!Sacred!Theology((Eerdmans,(1954),(48O51,(460O73,(and(also(John(Murray,(“The(Attestation(of(Scripture,”(The!Infallible!Word,(2nd(ed.((Presbyterian(&(Reformed,(1969),(33O42.(

9

(My(method(is(primarily(theological(or(biblical,(rather(than(historical.(In(other(words,(I(do(

not(want(to(base(my(case(primarily(upon(the(testimony(of(the(Jewish(Rabbis(or(the(early(

church(Fathers.(There(are(a(number(of(good(books(on(that(subjection(which(you(may(read.(

E.g.,(Edward(J.(Young,(“The(Canon(of(the(Old(Testament,”(Revelation!and!the!Bible,(ed.(Carl(F.(H.(Henry((Baker,(1958),(153O68;(R.(Laird(Harris,(Inspiration!and!Canonicity!of!the!Bible:!An!



1.%The%Old%Testament%canon%in%its%inception%and%development%

As(you(know,(our(Bible(comes(in(two(parts:(the(Old(Testament(and(

the(New(Testament.(And(these(two(parts(or(segments(of(our(Bible(

reflect(two(great(events(in(redemptive(history.(Israel’s(redemption(

from(Egypt(was(the(first(great(redemptive(event.(With(great(might(and(

power,(Yahweh(delivered(His(people(from(bondage(to(slavery.(And(

having(gathered(them(under(the(shadow(of(Mt.(Sinai,(He(initiated(a(

covenant(with(them.(And(at(the(heart(of(this(covenant,(were(the(Ten(

Commandments,(which(God(inscribed(upon(two(tablets(of(stone(with(

His(own(finger((Exod.(20:1O17).(These(Divinely(written(words(became(

the(beginning(of(an(Old(Testament(canon.(And(in(conjunction(with(

these(Ten(Commandments,(God(revealed(the(provisions(of(His(

covenant(relationship(with(Israel,(which(He(commanded(Moses(to(

write(down((Exod.(24:4).(Moses(then(ratified(these(documents(by(

sprinkling(blood(upon(them((Exod.(24:6O8).(Later,(God(commanded(

Moses(to(place(the(Ten(Commandments(in(the(Ark(of(the(Covenant(and(

to(set(the(rest(of(the(covenant(documents(next(to(the(Ark((Deut.(10:1O

5;(31:24O26).(

But(the(Old(Testament(canon(did(not(end(at(that(point.((In(

Deuteronomy(18,(God(assures(His(people(through(Moses(that(He(

would(raise(up(a(succession(of(prophets(after(Moses:(

I(will(raise(up(a(prophet(from(among(their(countrymen(like(you,(and(

I(will(put(My(words(in(his(mouth,(and(he(shall(speak(to(them(all(that(

I(command(him.(19(‘It(shall(come(about(that(whoever(will(not(listen(

to(My(words(which(he(shall(speak(in(My(name,(I(Myself(will(require(

it(of(him((Deut.(18:18,(NAS).(

Although(this(reference(ultimately(refers(to(Christ((Acts(3:22),(I(

believe(it(also(refers(to(a(divinely(appointed(succession(of(prophets(

Historical!and!Exegetical!Study((Zondervan,(1969);(Andrew(F.(Walls,(“The(Canon(of(the(New(Testament”(in(vol.(1(of(The!Expositor’s!Bible!Commentary,(ed.(Frank(E.(Gaebelein((Zondervan,(1979),(631O643.(Larger(studies(include(Roger(T.(Beckwith,(The!Old!Testament!Canon!of!the!New!Testament!Church((1985;(Wipf(&(Stock,(2008)(and(F.(F.(Bruce,(The!Canon!of!Scripture((InterVarsity,(1988).(For(approaches(to(the(canon(from(a(more(biblical(and(theological(

framework,(see(Meredith(G.(Kline,(The!Structure!of!Biblical!Authority,(second(edition((Grand(Rapids:(Eerdmans,(1972);(Herman(N.(Ridderbos,(Redemptive!History!and!the!New!Testament!Scriptures,(trans.(H.(De(Jongste,(ed.(Richard(B.(Gaffin(Jr.((Phillipsburg:(Presbyterian(and(Reformed,(1963);(and(Michael(J.(Kruger,(Canon!Revisited:!Establishing!the!Origins!and!Authority!of!the!New!Testament!Books((Wheaton:(Crossway,(2012).((



whom(God(would(raise(up(after(Moses.(These(prophets(would(serve(as(

God’s(spokesmen,(and(their(words(would(be(canonical,(just(like(the(

words(of(Moses.(As(we(move(from(the(Pentateuch(to(the(rest(of(our(

Old(Testament,(we(find(this(is(precisely(what(God(did.(God(continued(

to(mediate(His(word(through(men(like(Joshua,(Samuel,(David,(Solomon,(

Isaiah,(Jeremiah,(Ezekiel,(and(the(other(prophets.(In(the(book(of(Daniel(

chapter(nine,(we(find(a(reference(both(to(the(writings(of(Moses,(as(well(

as(to(the(writings(of(the(prophets(after(him((Dan(9:1O2,(9O13):(

In(the(first(year(of(Darius(the(son(of(Ahasuerus,(of(Median(descent,(

who(was(made(king(over(the(kingdom(of(the(Chaldeans(–in(the(first(

year(of(his(reign,(I,(Daniel,(observed(in(the(books(the(number(of(the(

years(which(was(revealed(as(the(word(of(the(LORD(to(Jeremiah(the(

prophet(for(the(completion(of(the(desolations(of(Jerusalem,(namely,(

seventy(years….(“To(the(Lord(our(God(belong(compassion(and(

forgiveness,(for(we(have(rebelled(against(Him;(nor(have(we(obeyed(

the(voice(of(the(LORD(our(God,(to(walk(in(His(teachings(which(He(

set(before(us(through(His(servants(the(prophets.(“Indeed(all(Israel(

has(transgressed(Your(law(and(turned(aside,(not(obeying(Your(

voice;(so(the(curse(has(been(poured(out(on(us,(along(with(the(oath(

which(is(written(in(the(law(of(Moses(the(servant(of(God,(for(we(have(

sinned(against(Him.(“Thus(He(has(confirmed(His(words(which(He(

had(spoken(against(us(and(against(our(rulers(who(ruled(us,(to(bring(

on(us(great(calamity;(for(under(the(whole(heaven(there(has(not(been(

done(anything(like(what(was(done(to(Jerusalem.(“As(it(is(written(in(

the(law(of(Moses,(all(this(calamity(has(come(on(us;(yet(we(have(not(

sought(the(favor(of(the(LORD(our(God(by(turning(from(our(iniquity(

and(giving(attention(to(Your(truth((Dan.(9:1O13,(NAS).(

According(to(verse(one,(Daniel(made(these(comments(during(the(

first(year(of(Darius,(which(was(probably(539(or(538(B.C.(So(by(Daniel’s(

day,(a(little(less(than(1,000(years(after(Moses,(there(was(a(recognized(

body(of(covenant(literature(made(up(of(the(Law(of(Moses(and(the(

teachings(of(the(prophets((in(particular,(the(writings(of(Jeremiah).(

Within(another(hundred(years(or(so,(the(last(books(of(the(Old(

Testament(would(be(completed.10

(

10

(These(would(include(Chronicles,(Ezra,(Nehemiah,(Esther,(Haggai,(Zechariah,(and(Malachi.(



2.%The%Old%Testament%canon%recognized%as%completely%developed%

By(the(time(of(Christ,(the(Jewish(canon(consisted(of(the(very(same(

books(that(make(up(our(Old(Testament(today.(The(Jews(counted(the(

number(of(the(books(differently(and(put(them(in(a(different(order.11

(

Nevertheless,(the(content(of(the(Jewish(canon(is(the(same(as(ours.(For(

example,(a(preface(to(a(second(century(B.C.(apocryphal(book(alludes(to(

the(Jewish(canon(as(“the(law,(the(prophets,(and(the(rest(of(the(books(of(

our(ancestors.”12

(Flavius(Josephus,(a(Jewish(historian(who(lived(just(

after(the(time(of(Christ((A.D.(37O95),(also(refers(to(this(Jewish(Canon:(

For(we(have(not(an(innumerable(multitude(of(books(among(us,(

disagreeing(from(and(contradicting(one(another(but(only(twentyO

two(books,(which(contain(the(records(of(all(the(past(times;(which(

are(justly(believed(to(be(divine;(and(of(them,(five(belong(to(Moses,…(

but(as(to(the(time(from(the(death(of(Moses(till(the(reign(of(

Artaxerxes,(kind(of(Persia,…(the(prophets,(who(were(after(Moses,(

wrote(down(what(was(done(in(their(times(in(thirteen(books.13

(The(

remaining(four(books(contain(hymns(to(God(and(precepts(for(the(

conduct(of(human(life.14

(It(is(true(our(history(hath(been(written(

since(Artaxerxes15

(…(but(hath(not(been(esteemed(of(the(like(

authority(with(the(former(by(our(forefathers,(because(there(hath(

not(been(an(exact(succession(of(prophets(since(that(time.16

(

According(the(NT(record,(the(Lord(Jesus(Christ(agreed(with(the(

Jewish(canon.(This(is(very(significant!(You(may(recall(that(for(the(most(

part,(Jesus(did(not(like(the(way(the(Jews(handled(the(Scriptures.(He(

11

(The(Jews(traditionally(count(the(Old(Testament(books(as(twentyOfour(in(number.(Our(

Bible(lists(thirtyOnine(books(because(it(divides(Samuel,(Kings,(Chronicles(into(two(books(each,(

and(divides(the(Minor(Prophets(into(twelve(separate(books.(The(Jewish(Bible(is(arranged(in(

three(sections:(The(Law(of(Moses(comprises(the(first(section.(The(Prophets(is(the(second(

section,(comprised(of(the(Former(Prophets((Joshua,(Judges,(Samuel,(Kings),(the(Latter(

Prophets((Isaiah,(Jeremiah,(Ezekiel,(and(the(Twelve).(The(Writings(comprise(the(third(section(

and(includes(eleven(books:(the(Psalms,(Proverbs,(Job,(the(Megillilot((Song(of(Solomon,(Ruth,(

Lamentations,(Ecclesiastes,(Esther),(Daniel,(EzraONehemiah,(and(finally(Chronicles.(

12

(In(the(preface(to(Ecclesiasticus,(which(was(written(by(the(great(grandson(of(its(author,(

Jesus(ben(Sirach.(

13

(According(to(Bruce,(The!Canon!of!Scripture,(Josephus(may(have(appended(Ruth(to(Judges(and(Lamentations(to(Jeremiah,(and(he(may(have(included(Job,(Esther,(Daniel,(Chronicles,(and(

EzraONehemiah(among(the(Prophets,(33.(

14

(Psalms,(Proverbs,(Ecclesiastes,(and(Song(of(Solomon.(

15

(A(reference(to(the(apocryphal(books.(

16

(Flavius(Josephus,(The!Complete!Work!of!Flavius!Josephus,(trans.(William(Whiston((Grand(Rapids:(Kregel(Publications,(1960),(609((Against(Apion(1.8).(



condemned(them(for(not(knowing(the(Scriptures((Matt(22:29),(for(

invalidating(the(Scripture(with(their(own(tradition((Matt(15:3O6;(Mk(

7:6O13),(and(for(refusing(to(submit(to(the(Scripture((John(5:45O47;(

8:40ff).(However,(Jesus(never(condemned(the(predominant(Jewish(

assessment(of(the(OT(canon.(He(never(accused(them(of(either(adding(

to(or(subtracting(from(the(Scripture.(To(the(contrary,(Jesus(recognized(

and(used(the(same(Jewish(canon(of(OT(writings.(Let’s(consider(some(

passages(that(confirm(this:(

Matthew%5:17518!Do(not(think(that(I(came(to(abolish(the(Law(or(the(Prophets;(I(did(

not(come(to(abolish(but(to(fulfill.(For(truly(I(say(to(you,(until(heaven(

and(earth(pass(away,(not(the(smallest(letter(or(stroke(shall(pass(

from(the(Law(until(all(is(accomplished((Matt.(5:17,(NAS).(

The(term(translated,(“Law,”(by(itself,(or(the(phrase,(“the(Law(or(the(

Prophets,”(were(common(ways(to(refer(to(the(Old(Testament(

Scriptures(in(Jesus’(day((cf.(Matt(7:12;(11:13;(22:40;(Luke(16:16;(John(

1:45;(Acts(13:15;(24:14;(28:23;(Rom(3:21).17

(In(His(Sermon(on(the(

Mount,(Jesus(emphatically(denies(any(intention(of(contradicting(or(

invalidating(this(canon(of(Scripture.(He(affirms(the(authority(of(every(

jot(and(every(tittle.18!

Matthew%23:34535%

Therefore,(behold,(I(am(sending(you(prophets(and(wise(men(and(

scribes;(some(of(them(you(will(kill(and(crucify,(and(some(of(them(

you(will(scourge(in(your(synagogues,(and(persecute(from(city(to(

city,(so(that(upon(you(may(fall(the(guilt(of(all(the(righteous(blood(

shed(on(earth,(from(the(blood(of(righteous(Abel(to(the(blood(of(

Zechariah,(the(son(of(Berechiah,(whom(you(murdered(between(the(

temple(and(the(altar((Matt.(23:34O35,(NAS).(

Jesus(does(not(explicitly(refer(to(the(OT(canon(in(this(passage.(

However,(a(number(of(commentators(and(scholars(believe(that(there(

may(be(an(implicit(reference(to(the(canon(here.19

(The(reference(to(“the(

17

(Craig(Keener,(A!Commentary!on!the!Gospel!of!Matthew((Grand(Rapids:(Eerdmans,(1999),(lists(several(Rabbinal(references(in(a(footnote,(177.(

18

(The(“jot”((yod)(was(the(smallest(Hebrew(letter,(and(the(“tittle”((lit.,(‘horn’)(referred(to(the(serifOlike(strokes,(which(distinguished(similar(consonants.(

19

(A(few(would(include(Alfred(Plummer,(An!Exegetical!Commentary!on!the!Gospel!According!to!Matthew((1915;(reprint,(Grand(Rapids:(Baker,(1982),(322;(R.(T.(France,(Matthew,(vol.(1(in(



blood(of(righteous(Abel”(is(found(in(the(first(book(of(the(OT—the(Book(

of(Genesis.(The(reference(to(“the(blood(of(Zechariah,(the(son(of(

Berechiah”(is(found(in(the(last(book(of(the(Jewish(Old(Testament—the(

Book(of(Chronicles.(Thus(we(have(an(allusion(to(the(OT(canon(of(Jesus’(

day,(an(inspired(Old(Testament(history(from(“A(to(Z.”(

Luke%24:25527,%32,%44545!And(He(said(to(them,(“O(foolish(men(and(slow(of(heart(to(believe(in(

all(that(the(prophets(have(spoken!(“Was(it(not(necessary(for(the(

Christ(to(suffer(these(things(and(to(enter(into(His(glory?”(Then(

beginning(with(Moses(and(with(all(the(prophets,(He(explained(to(

them(the(things(concerning(Himself(in(all(the(Scriptures….(Now(He(

said(to(them,(“These(are(My(words(which(I(spoke(to(you(while(I(was(

still(with(you,(that(all(things(which(are(written(about(Me(in(the(Law(

of(Moses(and(the(Prophets(and(the(Psalms(must(be(fulfilled.”(Then(

He(opened(their(minds(to(understand(the(Scriptures((Luke(24:25O

27,(32,(44O45,(NAS).(

In(this(passage,(Jesus(divides(this(OT(canon(is(divided(into(three(

sections:(the(“Law(of(Moses(and(the(Prophets(and(the(Psalms”((44).(

This(threeOfold(division(would(correspond(to(the(traditional(Jewish(

threeOfold(division,(the(“Psalms”(being(the(first(book(in(section(called,(

“the(Writings.”(Notice(also(that(the(Law(and(the(Prophets(and(the(

Psalms”(are(collectively(referred(to(in(verses(27,(32,(and(45(as(“the(

Scriptures.”(Furthermore,(Christ(indicates(here(and(in(our(earlier(text(

(Matt(5:17)(that(the(OT(canon(has(reached(its(fulfillment(in(Him.(

Since(Christ(views(Himself(as(the(fulfillment(of(the(OT(promises,(and(

since(He(has(come(to(inaugurate(a(New(Covenant,(then(we(may(

conclude(that(the(Old(Covenant(canon(at(the(time(of(Christ(was(

complete.(The(Law,(the(Prophets,(and(the(Psalms(constitute(the(

completed(OT(canon.(

Now(before(we(move(on(it’s(important(to(underscore(the(fact(that(

Jesus(and(the(Jews(did(not(view(these(writings(as(mere(religious(

folklore(or(human(tradition.(The(Apostle(Paul,(who(was(well(versed(in(

Jewish(custom(and(tradition,(refers(to(these(sacred(writings(as(“the(

Tyndale(New(Testament(Commentaries((Leichester:(InterVarsity;(Grand(Rapids:(Eerdmans,(

1985),(330O31;(William(Hendricksen,(Exposition!of!the!Gospel!According!to!Matthew((Grand(Rapids:(Baker,(1973),(838;(Craig(Keener,(A!Commentary!on!the!Gospel!of!Matthew,(556.(



oracles(of(God”((Rom(3:1).(In(other(words,(they(viewed(these(writings(

as(‘divine(utterances.’(That(leads(me(to(my(third(point:(

3.%The%Old%Testament%canon%acknowledged%to%be%inspired%revelation%

Writes(the(apostle(Paul(to(Timothy,(

You,(however,(continue(in(the(things(you(have(learned(and(become(

convinced(of,(knowing(from(whom(you(have(learned(them,(and(that(

from(childhood(you(have(known(the(sacred(writings(which(are(able(

to(give(you(the(wisdom(that(leads(to(salvation(through(faith(which(

is(in(Christ(Jesus.(All(Scripture(is(inspired(by(God(and(profitable(for(

teaching,(for(reproof,(for(correction,(for(training(in(righteousness((

(2(Tim.(3:14O16).(

Paul(identifies(the(“sacred(writings,”(which(Timothy(knew(from(

early(childhood(as(“Scripture.”(Since(the(NT(canon(was(not(extant(

when(Timothy(was(a(child,(Paul(probably(had(the(OT(Scriptures(

primarily(in(view.20

(Paul(asserts(that(this(OT(canon(in(its(entirety(is(

“inspired(by(God,”(that(is,(“breathed(out(by(God.”21

(In(other(words,(

Paul(sees(God(Himself(as(the(ultimate(author(and(source(of(the(sacred(

writings(of(our(OT(canon.(

In(summary,(God(revealed(His(covenant(to(Israel(through(Moses,(

whom(He(commanded(to(inscripturate(that(revelation.(Following(

Moses,(God(raised(up(other(prophets(and(many(of(their(writings(were(

also(added(to(the(Old(Covenant(Scriptures.(By(the(NT(period,(the(Jews(

possessed(a(fixed(body(of(sacred(writings,(which(they(sometimes(

referred(to(as(“the(Law,”(sometimes(as(“the(Law(and(the(Prophets,”(

and(sometimes(as(“the(Law,(the(Prophets,(and(the(Psalms.”22

(Jesus(and(

the(other(NT(writers(place(their(imprimatur(upon(this(Jewish(canon(of(

Scripture(as(inspired(revelation(from(God.(That’s(the(identity(of(the(

Old(Covenant(canon(of(Scripture.(

20

(Of(course,(Paul(was(aware(that(the(NT(canon(was(under(development(and(could(even(

equate(a(saying(recording(in(Luke’s(Gospel((Luke(10:7)(as(“Scripture”((1(Tim.(5:18).(So(it’s(

possible(that(he(had(the(OT(canon(in(view(in(verse(15(but(broadened(that(horizon(to(include(

the(developing(NT(canon(in(verse(16.(Whatever(the(case,(the(divine(origin(and(quality(Paul(

ascribes(to(the(OT(applies(also,(by(way(of(extension,(to(the(NT.((

21

(The(Greek(term(is(theopneustos,(literally,(“GodObreathed.”(22

(Waldron,(Prolegomena!2,(172,(following(R.(Laird(Harris,(does(not(believe(the(threeOfold(division(is(a(biblical(way(to(view(the(OT(canon(and(prefers(not(to(see(Christ(endorsing(it.(But(

Christ(may(refer(to(the(threeOfold(arrangement(of(the(Jewish(canon(without(necessarily(

endorsing(that(arrangement.(



4.%What%about%the%Apocrypha?%

Before(we(move(on(to(consider(the(canon(of(the(New(Testament,(we(

need(to(address(the(question(of(the(Apocrypha.(The(Greek(Septuagint,(

the(Latin(Vulgate,(and(many(later(versions(of(the(Bible(add(a(number(

of(books(to(the(Old(Testament.(These(would(include(such(books(as(

Tobit,(Judith,(Baruch,(1(&(2(Maccabees,(the(Book(of(Wisdom,(and(

Ecclesiasticus.23

(The(Jews(called(them(“apocryphal,”(meaning(“hidden,”(

because(the(Jews(judged(some(of(their(contents(unorthodox(and(

therefore(unsuitable(for(public(reading.(

While(Protestants(followed(the(Jews(in(rejecting(these(books(as(

canonical,(the(Roman(Catholic(Church(and(Greek(Orthodox(Church(

eventually(included(them(in(the(canon.(Thus(if(we(open(the(table(of(

contents(to(a(Catholic(Bible,(we(would(find(these(books(listed(along(

with(the(OT(books(of(Scripture.(That(leads(us(to(ask(an(important(

question:(Why(have(Protestants(traditionally(rejected(the(Apocryphal(

books(as(Scripture?(Here(are(some(of(the(reasons:(

The$Jews$have$not$recognized$the$Apocryphal$books$as$part$of$the$Old$Covenant$canon.$

As(we(have(seen,(the(Jewish(historian(Josephus(limits(the(OT(

canonical(writings(to(those(composed(during(or(before(the(reign(of(

Artaxerxes.(This(would(exclude(the(Apocryrphal(books.(And(Josephus’(

testimony(is(confirmed(by(the(later(Jewish(rabbis,24

(including(Philo(of(

Alexandria.25

(Even(the(late(second(century(B.C.(apocryphal(book(of(1(

Maccabees(acknowledges(the(prior(disappearance(of(prophecy(among(

23

(The(full(list(includes(the(following:(1(&(2(Esdras,(Tobit,(Judith,(the(additions(to(Esther,(

Wisdom(of(Solomon,(Ecclesiasticus,(Baruch,(Epistle(of(Jeremiah,(additions(to(the(book(of(

Daniel((Prayer(of(Azariah(and(Song(of(the(Three(Hebrew(Children,(Susanna,(Bel(and(the(

Dragon),(the(Prayer(of(Manasseh,(1(&(2(Maccabees.((For(a(fuller(description(and(history(of(the(

Apocrapha,(see(R.(K.(Harrison,(Introduction!to!the!Old!Testament!(Hendrickson(Publishers,(2004),(pp.(1175O1278.(

24

(In(particular,(the(Babylonian(Talmud((A.D.(70—200)(identifies(twentyOfour(books(as(

inspired((our(thirtyOnine)(and(discusses(their(order.(Shortly(after(the(destruction(of(Jerusalem(

in(A.D.(70,(the(rabbis(at(Jamnia(discussed(the(canon,(but(there(is(currently(no(evidence(that(an(

official(counsel(took(place(to(set(the(limits(of(the(canon.(Cf.(Bruce,(The!Canon!of!Scripture,(34O36.(

25

(If(any(Jew(might(regard(the(Apocryphal(books(as(inspired,(it(would(be(Philo.(He(was(an(

Alexandrian(Jew(who(used(the(Septuagint(translation,(which(included(the(Apocryphal(books.(

Yet,(Philo(only(acknowledge(those(books(to(be(inspired(that(were(part(of(the(traditional(

Hebrew(text(according(to(Bruce,(46.(



the(Jews.(For(example,(in(9:27(of(that(book,(we(read,(“A(terrible(

oppression(began(in(Israel;(there(had(been(nothing(like(it(since(the(

disappearance(of(prophecy(among(them”((Jerusalem(Bible).(The(

implication(of(that(statement(is(that(the(writer(of(Maccabees(does(not(

consider(his(own(work(to(be(prophetic.26

(

2)$It’s$worth$noting$that$Jesus$and$the$apostles$appear$to$have$supported$the$prevailing$Jewish$view$of$the$canon$and$never$faulted$that$viewpoint$for$“subtracting”$books$from$the$canon.$

The(Pharisees(represented(the(prevailing(Jewish(view(of(the(OT(

canon(in(Jesus(day.(That(view(affirmed(the(threeOfold(division(of(the(

Law,(the(Prophets,(and(the(Writings,(referred(to(be(Jewish(tradition(as(

the(Tanakh.27

(As(I(noted(earlier,(Jesus(did(not(like(the(way(the(Jews(

handled(the(Scriptures.(He(condemned(them(for(not(knowing(the(

Scriptures((Matt(22:29),(for(invalidating(the(Scripture(with(their(own(

tradition((Matt(15:3O6;(Mk(7:6O13),(and(for(refusing(to(submit(to(the(

Scripture((John(5:45O47;(8:40ff).(However,(Jesus(never(condemned(the(

predominant(Jewish(assessment(of(the(OT(canon.(He(never(accused(

them(of(subtracting(from(the(Scripture(by(failing(to(include(the(

Apocrypha.(Furthermore,(we(find(Jesus(and(the(disciples(citing(and(

alluding(to(nearly(every(book(of(the(traditional(OT(canon.28

(But(there(

is(no(evidence(that(Jesus(or(the(Apostles(ever(regarded(any(of(the(

Apocrpyhal(books(as(canonical.29

(Thus,(Jesus’(endorsement(of(the(

prevailing(Jewish(view(of(the(canon((Matt.(5:17;(23:34O35;(Luke(24:25O

27,(32,(44O45)(together(with(the(lack(of(his(criticizing(this(veiw(and(the(

absence(of(His(endorsement(of(the(apocryphal(books(weighs(against(

the(inclusion(of(the(Apocrypha(in(the(canon.30

(

26

(See(also(the(disclaimer(in(2(Maccabees(15:38:(“If([my(own(account](is(well(written(and(

to(the(point,(that(is(what(I(wanted;(if(it(is(poorly(done(and(mediocre,(that(is(the(best(I(could(do”(

(NAB).(

27

(The(word(“Tanakh”(is(an(acronym(for(the(“Law”((torah),(the(Prophets”((neba’im),(and(the(“Writings”((khethubim).(

28

(According(to(B.(F.(Westcott,(The!Bible!and!the!Church((MacMillan,(1901),(43O44,(twentyOeight(of(the(thirtyOnine(books(are(cited.(

29

(Jude(alludes(to(an(OT(incident(that(is(recorded(in(a(pseudapigraphal(book(entitled(the(

Assumption(of(Moses.(John(Calvin,(Calvin’s!New!Testament!Commentaries,(vol.(3((Eerdmans,(1972),(329,(believes(Jude(and(the(writer(of(the(Assumption(may(have(drawn(their(story(from(a(

common(oral(tradition.(Even(if(Jude(drew(from(the(apocryphal(work,(we(can(be(sure(the(Spirit(

of(God(guided(his(selection,(as(He(did(Paul’s(use(of(heathen(poets((Acts(17:28).(

30

(It(must(be(admitted(that(the(absence(of(a(censure(from(Christ(and(the(apostles(regarding(



3)$While$the$Christian$church$as$a$whole$has$agreed$upon$the$Jewish$OT$canon$and$the$Greek$NT$canon,$it$has$not$unequivocally$recognized$the$canonicity$of$the$Apocrypha.$

It(is(true(that(some(of(the(early(church(fathers(quoted(the(

Apocrypha(in(a(manner(similar(to(their(quoting(of(Scripture.(But(it(is(

not(until(Augustine(that(we(find(a(clear(statement(in(favor(of(its(

canonicity.31

(Yet(even(Augustine’s(high(view(of(the(Apocrypha(is(later(

contradicted(when(he(accords(it(a(kind(of(secondaryOcanonical(

status.32

(The(Western(Catholic(Church(and(eventually(the(Eastern(

Orthodox(Church(followed(Augustine(in(according(the(Apocrypha(a(

kind(of(“deuteroOcanonical”(status.33

(However,(the(16th(century(

Protestant(Reformers(rejected(this(distinction(between(a(secondary(

and(primary(canon,(and(as(a(result,(they(refused(to(accord(the(

Apocryphal(books(canonical(status.(Thus(the(testimony(of(the(church(

as(a(whole(is(unanimous(in(favor(of(the(Jewish(canon(but(divided(over(

the(Apocrypha(books.(To(use(the(words(of(Sam(Waldron,(“The(history(

the(Jewish(exclusion(of(the(apocryphal(books(is(an(argument(from(silence.(Moreover,(Josephus(

seems(to(indicate(that(the(Sadducees,(unlike(the(Pharisees,(only(treated(the(law(of(Moses(as(

canonical((Antiquities,(13,(sec.(297;(18,(sec.(17).(The(fact(that(neither(Jesus(nor(the(apostles(

ever(criticize(the(Sadducees(for(their(exclusion(of(the(Prophets(and(Writings(would(seem,(

then,(to(invalidate(our(argument.(On(the(other(hand,(it(is(not(absolutely(clear(from(Josephus(or(

from(other(sources(of(Jewish(tradition(that(the(Sadducees(completely(rejected(the(Prophets(

and(Writings(in(their(entirety(as!religious!tradition.(For(one,(there(is(NT(evidence((along(with(Jewish(tradition)(that(implicates(the(Sadducees(as(antiOsupernaturalists((see(Matt.(22:23O28;(

Mark(12:18O23;(Luke(20:27O33;(Acts(23:6O8),(the(ancient(equivalent(of(contemporary(

“modernists.”(Furthermore,(according(to(one(source(of(Jewish(tradition,(the(Sadducees(are(

excluded(from(“the(students(of(Moses”((b.!Yoma(4a).(Hence,(the(Sadducees(seemed(to(have(a(lower(view(of(inspiration(than(the(Pharisees–even(with(respect(to(the(Law(of(Moses.(And(

though(Jesus(does(not(explicitly(condemn(them(for(their(view(of(the(canon,(alleged(deficient(

by(Josephus,(he(does(rebuke(their(antiOsupernaturalism(and(sides(with(the(Pharisees’s(view(of(

the(resurrection((Matt.(22:29O33;(Mark(12:24O27;(Luke(20:34O40)(and(of(the(canon((Matt.(

5:17;(23:34O35;(Luke(24:25O27,(32,(44O45).(It’s(more(likely(that(the(Sadducees(would(have(

acknowledged(the(same(canon(as(the(Pharisees,(but(they(didn’t(accord(it(the(same(level(of(

inspiration(and(authority(as(the(Pharisees.(See(Roger(Beckwith,(The!Old!Testament!Canon!of!the!New!Testament!Church,(86O91.(

31

(NPCF,(first(series,(II,(p.(1125O26((On(Christian(Doctrine,(2.13).(

32

(R.(Laird(Harris,(Inspiration!and!Canonicity,(190O91,(cites(two(passages(from(Augustine’s(De!Civitate!Dei((the(City(of(God),(xviii,(26,(36,(in(which(Augustine(seems(to(acknowledge(a(kind(of(“deuterocanonical”(status(for(the(Apocryphal(books.(G.(Douglas(Young,(“The(Apocrypha,”(

Revelation(and(the(Bible,(176,(alludes(to(another(passage(in(Augustine’s(writings(where(this(

distinction(is(implied,(but(I(have(not(been(able(to(locate(that(passage.(

33

(The(Roman(Catholic(Church(officially(pronounced(the(apocryphal(books(as(canonical(in(

1546.(The(Eastern(Orthodox(Church(followed(suit(in(1642.(F.(F.(Bruce,(The!Canon!of!Scripture,(pp.(82,(104O05.(



of(the(Apocrypha(is(the(history(of(doubts,(division(and(rejection.”34

(For(

this(reason,(we(do(better(to(follow(the(example(of(the(Jews,(the(

Apostles,(and(Jesus(Himself.(

4)$Most$importantly,$the$Apocrypha$lacks$the$selfUauthenticating$quality$of$Scripture$as$the$infallible$and$inerrant$word$of$God.$

Scripture(possesses(certain(innate(qualities(that(commend(it(to(

man’s(conscience(as(the(voice(of(God.(Not(only(does(the(Apocrypha(

abound(in(historical,(geographical,(chronological,(and(doctrinal(

errors,35

(but(it(lacks(that(inherent(quality(of(perfect,(coherent(and(

authoritative(divine(speech.(Thus,(one(of(the(best(ways(to(disprove(the(

canonicity(of(the(Apocrypha(is(to(read(it.(The(OT(scholar(Laird(Harris(

makes(this(point(when(he(writes,(“More(Christians(should(read(the(

Apocrypha(as(interesting(old(history.(To(do(so(would(settle(many(

questions(regarding(canonicity.”36

(

THE$INSPIRED$NEW$TESTAMENT$CANON$

Above(we(considered(several(New(Testament(passages(of(Scripture(

that(identify(or(allude(to(a(completed(OT(canon((e.g.,(Matt.(5:17O19;(

23:34O35;(2(Tim.(3:15O16).(But(we(look(in(vain(for(passages(that(

identify(a(completed(NT(canon.(This(should(not(surprise(us(since(

during(the(writing(of(any(NT(book(to(which(we(might(appeal,(the(NT(

canon(as(an(organic(whole(had(not(yet(been(completed.(But(this(fact(

raises(an(important(question:(if(the(Bible(does(not(bear(witness(to(a(

completed(NT(canon,(how(shall(we(develop(a(biblical(argument(for(the(

NT(canon?(The(NT(bears(witness(to(a(completed(OT(canon.(Where(

must(we(look(for(a(witness(to(a(completed(NT(canon?(

34

(Waldron,(Prolegomena!2,(196O97.(35

(For(example,(Tobit(1:2(portrays(Shalmaneser(as(the(Assyrian(king(who(carried(away(

Naphtali(into(captivity,(but(according(to(2(Kings(15:29,(it(was(actually(TiglathOPilesar.(

According(to(Tobit(1:15,(Sennacherib(is(the(son(of(Shalmaneser((1:15),(when(in(fact(he(was(the(

son(of(Sargon;(neither(of(which(descended(from(Shalmaneser.((Nebuchadnezzar(and(

Ahasuerus(as(the(conqueror’s(of(Nineveh((14:15).(But(in(reality,(it(was(their(predecessors,(

Nabopolassar(and(Cyaxeres,(who(destroyed(the(city.(Second(Maccabees(speaks(of(prayers(and(

sacrifices(for(the(dead,(the(doctrine(of(purgatory((12:43O46),(and(the(intercession(of(the(saints(

in(heaven((15:11ff.).(Not(surprisingly(the(Roman(Catholic(Church(cites(these(passages(to(

support(their(teaching.(And(though(2(Maccabees(7:11O14(supports(the(resurrection(of(the(

body;(the(Book(of(Wisdom(follows(Greek(philosophy(and(speaks(only(of(the(immortality(of(the(

soul—the(human(body(being(a(prison(of(the(soul((3:1ff.;(8:19f.;(9:15).((For(other(examples,(see(

Harris,(Inspiration(and(Canonicity,(181ff.(

36

(Harris,(Inspiration!and!Canonicity,(p.(193.(



The(Roman(Catholic(Church(has(an(answer(to(that(question.(It(says(

we(must(look(to(ecclesiastical(tradition.(What(the(Catholic(Church(

declares(is(the(NT(canon(is(the(NT(canon.(Indeed,(this(is(one(of(their(

arguments(for(the(coOdependency(and(coOauthority(of(Scripture(and(

tradition.(The(authority(of(the(church(is(grounded(in(Scripture,(but(the(

authority(of(Scripture,(they(say,(depends(upon(the(authority(of(the(

church.(For(this(reason,(Catholics(argue(we(must(base(our(doctrine(of(a(

completed(NT(canon(upon(the(testimony(of(church(tradition.37

(

Is(that(true?(Must(we(base(our(doctrine(of(the(OT(canon(upon(

Scripture(and(our(doctrine(of(the(NT(canon(upon(church(tradition?(Dr.(

Ned(Stonehouse,(one(of(the(early(professors(of(Westminster(Seminary,(

is(attuned(to(this(difficulty(when(he(writes,(

The(attestation(of(the(canonicity(of(the(New(Testament,(in(the(

nature(of(the(case,(cannot(be(provided(by(Jesus(in(the(manner(that(

his(words(offer(a(ratification(of(the(authority(of(the(Old(Testament.(

The(writings(themselves(came(into(existence(after(the(ascension(of(

our(Lord.(And(their(collection(and(acknowledgement(as(canonical(

were(not(finally(accomplished(even(at(the(close(of(the(first(Christian(

century.(The(attestation(of(the(canonicity(of(the(New(Testament,(in(

contradistinction(from(that(of(the(Old(Testament,(might(seem(to(

have(to(depend(exclusively(upon(an(ecclesiastical(affirmation.(If(this(

were(true,(it(might(appear(that(the(New(Testament(is(at(a(most(

serious(disadvantage,(lacking(the(high(sanction(that(the(Old(

Testament(enjoys.38

(

This(seeming(dilemma(has(led(some(evangelicals(to(agree(with(the(

Roman(Catholic(Church(and(to(base(their(doctrine(of(a(NT(canon(

primarily(upon(church(tradition.39

(However,(while(the(church’s(

testimony(plays(a(part(in(identifying(the(NT(canon,(it(should(not(be(our(

primary(witness.(I(believe(the(Bible(itself(provides(the(foundational(

witness(to(the(NT(canon.(And(though(there(are(no(explicit(references(

37

(This(continues(to(be(the(Catholic(Church’s(position(as(affirmed(at(Vatican(II:(“Through(

the(same([ecclesiastical](tradition(the(full(canon(of(the(sacred(books(becomes(known(to(the(

Church(…”((Dei!Verbum,(1:6).(38

(Ned(Stonehouse,(“The(Authority(of(The(New(Testament,”(The!Infallible!Word,(2nd(ed.((Presbyterian(and(Reformed,(1967),(104O05.(

39

(By(making(their(primary(appeal(to(the(testimony(of(the(early(church(fathers(and(church(

councils(rather(than(to(the(testimony(of(Scripture,(Protestants(inadvertently(give(support(to(

the(Catholic(position.(See(F.(F.(Bruce,(The!Canon!of!Scripture((InterVarsity,(1988).(



in(the(Bible(to(a(completed(NT(canon,(there(are,(nevertheless,(several(

passages(and(teachings(from(which(we(may(infer(a(NT(canon.40

((

Contrary(to(Rome,(we(must(begin(with(the(Bible(itself,(not(church(

tradition,(in(seeking(to(establish(a(NT(canon.(With(this(conviction(

before(us,(I(would(like(to(develop(the(biblical(witness(to(the(NT(canon(

under(two(general(propositions:((1)(the(OT(canon(anticipates(and(

presupposes(a(NT(canon,(and((2)(the(apostolic(witness(to(Christ(is(that(

NT(canon.(

1.%The%Old%Testament%canon%anticipates%and%presupposes%a%New%Testament%canon.%

Earlier(I(spoke(of(two(great(events(in(Redemptive(history.(The(first(

was(God(redeeming(His(people(from(Egypt(by(the(hand(of(Moses.(That(

great(event(marked(the(inception(of(an(Old(Covenant(canon.(However(

that(first(great(redemptive(event(would(pale(in(comparison(to(the(

second(great(redemptive(event.(In(fact,(the(first(great(event(was(

merely(a(shadow(of(the(second(great(event.(Now(God(would(redeem(

His(people(from(their(sins(by(the(hand(of(one(greater(than(Moses((cf.(

Deut.(18:15ff.;(Heb.(3:1O7).(The(Son(of(God(would(come(and(ratify(a(

New(Covenant(with(His(own(blood.(After(400(years(of(silence,(God(was(

going(to(reveal(Himself(once(again(to(His(people.(Only(this(revelation(

would(be(the(greatest(revelation(God(ever(made:(

In(the(beginning(was(the(Word,(and(the(Word(was(with(God,(and(the(

Word(was(God….(And(the(Word(became(flesh,(and(dwelt(among(us,(

and(we(saw(His(glory,(glory(as(of(the(only(begotten(from(the(Father,(

full(of(grace(and(truth((John(1:1,(14).(

The(coming(of(the(Son(of(God(is(the(coming(of(the(Word,(literally,(

the(Divine(message(or(communication.(Jesus(Christ(is(the(climax(of(

Divine(revelation.(Note(how(John(further(underscores(this(fact(in(verse(

17:(“For(the(Law(was(given(through(Moses;([but](grace(and(truth(were(

realized(through(Jesus(Christ.”(

What(do(you(suppose(John(means(by(this(contrast?(I(believe(that(the(

first(half(of(the(verse(introduces(us(to(Moses(as(the(mediator(of(the(Old(

40

(The(Westminster(Confession(supports(this(indirect(method(of(argumentation(when(it(

asserts,(“The(whole(counsel(of(God(concerning(all(things(necessary(for(his(own(glory,(man’s(

salvation,(faith(and(life,(is(either(expressly(set(down(in(Scripture,(or!by!good!and!necessary!consequence!may!be!deduced(from(Scripture”([emphasis(mine].(



Covenant(canon.(The(OT(was(given(through(Moses.(The(second(half(of(

the(verse,(however,(introduces(us(to(a(new(mediator(and(a(new(

covenant:(“Grace(and(truth([came(about](through(the(mediation(of(

Jesus(Christ.”(In(other(words,(what(we(have(here(are(two(mediators,(

two(covenants,(and(TWO(CANONS!((The(“law”(is(the(OT(canon(

completed.(“Grace(and(truth,”(refer(to(a(New(Covenant(canon,(not(yet(

completed(but(anticipated(and(presupposed.(

Let(me(develop(this(point(further.(Why(do(you(suppose(John(is(

contrasting(the(OT(as(law(with(the(NT(as(grace(and(truth?((Does(John(

mean(to(say(that(there(was(no(“grace(and(truth”(in(the(OT?(Does(he(

mean(to(say(that(under(the(Old(Covenant(men(were(saved(by(works,(

whereas(under(the(New(Covenant(men(are(saved(by(grace?(We(know(

that’s(not(the(case,(because(the(God(who(gave(the(law(to(Moses(

revealed(himself(to(Moses(as(“Yahweh,(full(of(grace(and(truth”((Exod.(

34:5O6).(And(after(Moses(saw(God’s(glory,(he(descended(from(Mt.(Sinai(

with(his(face(radiating(the(same(glory(that(had(been(revealed(to(him(

on(the(mount.(Grace(and(truth(were(shining(from(Moses’(face!(Thus(

the(OT(as(well(as(the(NT(revealed(God’s(saving(grace.(

Why(then(is(John(making(a(contrast?(I(believe(John’s(purpose(in(this(

passage(is(to(highlight(the(superiority(of(the(New(Covenant(and(its(

mediator.(The(Old(Covenant(contained(grace(and(truth.(However,(that(

grace(and(truth(was(promissory(in(form.(God’s(people(could(not(look(

directly(at(His(glory,(but(they(could(only(see(it(as(it(was(reflected(from(

Moses’(face.(Even(then(there(was(a(veil(over(his(face,(because(God’s(

people(were(not(ready(for(the(full(revelation(of(God’s(glory.(

But(in(the(fullness(of(time(God(sent(forth(His(Son,(the(Word.(Now(

the(veil(will(be(taken(away(from(the(Law(of(Moses.(Now(God’s(people(

are(ready(to(see(God’s(glory(in(all(of(its(fullness.(Look(again(at(verse(

14:(“And(the(Word(became(flesh,(and(dwelt(among(us,(and(we(beheld(

His(glory,(glory(as(of(the(only(begotten(from(the(Father,(full(of(grace(

and(truth.”(Now(grace(and(truth(are(no(longer(in(the(promissory(form(

of(the(OT.(Now(they’re(in(the(fulfillment(form(of(the(incarnate(Son(of(

God—the(Mediator(of(a(better(covenant.(Instead(of(sending(Moses(

down(from(the(mountain(in(order(to(reflect(His(glorious(grace(and(

truth,(God(Himself,(in(the(person(of(Jesus(Christ,(has(come(down(from(

the(mountain.(Note(the(declaration(of(verse(18:(“The(only(begotten(



God(who(is(in(the(bosom(of(the(Father,(He(has(explained([i.e.,(revealed](

Him.”41

(

Jesus(Christ(Himself(is(the(New(Covenant(word(from(God.42

(And(is(

this(not(the(teaching(of(Hebrews(1:1O2?(In(verse(one,(the(author(of(

Hebrews(alludes(to(the(OT(canon:(“God,(after(He(spoke(long(ago(to(the(

fathers(in(the(prophets(in(many(portions(and(in(many(ways.”(Then(in(

verse(two,(he(identifies(the(NT(canon:(“[God](in(these(last(days(has(

spoken(to(us(in(His(Son.”(Here(we(have(two(administrations(of(

speaking.(The(first(time(God(spoke,(He(spoke(by(way(of(promise.(What(

does(a(canon(of(promise(anticipate(and(presuppose?(It(anticipates(and(

presupposes(a(canon(of(fulfillment.(And(that(canon(of(fulfillment(is(

God(speaking(to(us(in(the(person(of(His(Son.(As(Moses(initiated(the(Old(

Testament(body(of(sacred(Scripture,(so(Jesus(Christ(would(initiate(the(

New(Covenant(body(of(sacred(Scripture.(Thus,(we(may(conclude,(the(

Old(Testament(canon(anticipates(and(presupposes(a(New(Testament(

canon.(

That(brings(us(to(our(second(main(assertion(regarding(the(NT(

canon.((Whereas(Moses(authored(the(first(five(books(of(the(Old(

Covenant;(Jesus(Christ(never(wrote(any(canonical(books(or(

letters.(How(then(do(we(make(the(jump(from(the(New(Covenant(

canonical(word(of(Christ(to(the(27(books(of(our(New(Testament?(

2.%The%Apostolic%Witness%of%Christ%is%our%New%Testament%canon.%

I(will(develop(this(assertion(under(four(propositions:(

1)$Christ$commissioned$official$messengerUrepresentatives$to$bear$witness$of$His$work$and$to$proclaim$His$teaching.$

The(resurrected(Christ(said(to(his(disciples,(“Thus(it(is(written,(that(

the(Christ(would(suffer(and(rise(again(from(the(dead(the(third(day,(and(

that(repentance(for(forgiveness(of(sins(would(be(proclaimed(in(His(

name(to(all(the(nations,(beginning(from(Jerusalem.(You(are(witnesses(

of(these(things”((Luke(24:46O48).(Jesus(has(just(revealed(to(them(what(

the(OT(canon(promised(concerning(His(person(and(work.(Now,(the(

41

(The(Greek(word(is(exegeomai,(from(which(we(derive(the(English(“to(exegete.(42

(See(Donald(A.(Carson,(The!Gospel!According!to!John!(Grand(Rapids:(Eerdmans,(1991),(131O34.(



Lord(commissions(them(to(be(his(official(“witnesses”(of(His(person,(

work,(and(words.(

When(Christ(commissions(them(to(bear(witness(of(Him,(He(is(not(

using(the(word(‘witness’(in(the(way(we(often(use(the(term.(We(often(

speak(of(“witnessing”(in(the(simple(sense(of(sharing(the(gospel.(Christ,(

however,(is(using(the(term(“witness”(in(a(more(technical(sense,(much(

like(when(we(speak(of(an(official(witness(in(a(court(case.(And(this(is(

why(Christ(has(designated(these(men(“apostles.”(The(term(“apostle”(

was(often(used(to(refer(to(an(official(messengerOrepresentative.(It(has(

legal(and(political(overtones.(An(official(apostle(had(“power(of(

attorney”(with(reference(to(the(person(he(was(representing.43

(His(

office(was(like(that(of(an(ambassador.(

This(is(why(Jesus(says(to(Peter(in(Matthew(16:19,(“I(will(give(you(

the(keys(of(the(kingdom(of(heaven;(and(whatever(you(bind(on(earth(

shall(have(been(bound(in(heaven,(and(whatever(you(loose(on(earth(

shall(have(been(loosed(in(heaven.”(Christ(gives(his(apostles(“power(of(

attorney.”(Their(judgment(was(to(be(treated(as(the(judgment(of(

heaven!(And(this(is(why(Christ(tells(His(disciples(in(another(place,(“He(

who(receives(you(receives(Me,(and(he(who(receives(Me,(receives(Him(

who(sent(me”((Matt.(10:40).(

How(do(we(get(to(the(Father?(Through(Christ!(Jesus(said,(“I(am(the(

way,(the(truth,(and(the(life,(no(man(comes(to(the(Father(except(through(

Me”((John(14:7).(He(is,(according(to(Hebrews(3:1,(the(Father’s(

“Apostle.”(His(word(must(be(treated(as(the(Father’s(word.(But(how(do(

we(get(to(the(Son?(How(do(you(and(I(come(into(contact(with(Christ’s(

word?((Christ’s(official(apostles(provide(the(answer(to(that(question.(

And(these(apostles(bear(witness(to(and(proclaim(Christ’s(word.(Thus,(

it(is(correct(to(say(that(after(His(ascension(into(heaven(no(man(comes(

to(the(Son(except(through(the(apostolic(witness(to(Him((cf.(Heb(2:1O4;(

1(John(4:6).(

43

(Herman(Ridderbos(provides(an(excellent(description(of(the(nature(of(the(apostolate:(

“Recent(research(has(shown(that(the(formal(structure(of(the(apostolate(was(derived(from(the(

Jewish(legal(system,(where(one(person(could(be(given(the(legal(power(to(represent(another(

person.(The(representative(who(had(such(power(of(attorney(was(called(a(shaliach((apostle),(and(so(unique(was(his(relationship(to(the(one(he(represented(that(the(shaliach(was(regarded(as(that(person(himself.”(Redemptive!History!and!the!New!Testament!Scriptures((Presbyterian(and(Reformed,(1963),(14.(



But(perhaps(someone(will(object(that(these(men(were(sinners.(How(

do(we(know(for(certain(that(these(men(did(not(distort(or(corrupt(

Christ’s(New(Testament(canonical(word?(Notice(verse(49(of(our(text(in(

Luke(24:(“and(behold,(I(am(sending(forth(the(promise(of(My(Father(

upon(you;(but(you(are(to(stay(in(the(city(until(you(are(clothed(with(

power(from(on(high.”(That(brings(us(to(the(second(heading(under(the(

apostolic(witness.(

2)$Christ$promised$these$apostles$that$His$Spirit$would$insure$the$integrity$and$trustworthiness$of$their$witness$and$proclamation.$

At(this(point(I(would(like(to(cite(several(passages(in(Christ’s(farewell(

discourse((John(14O16)(and(then(summarize(the(key(ideas(related(to(

our(proposition.(

These(things(I(have(spoken(to(you(while(abiding(with(you.(“But(the(

Helper,(the(Holy(Spirit,(whom(the(Father(will(send(in(My(name,(He(

will(teach(you(all(things,(and(bring(to(your(remembrance(all(that(I(

said(to(you((John(14:2O26).(

When(the(Helper(comes,(whom(I(will(send(to(you(from(the(Father,(

that(is(the(Spirit(of(truth(who(proceeds(from(the(Father,(He(will(

testify(about(Me,(and(you(will(testify(also,(because(you(have(been(

with(Me(from(the(beginning((John(15:26O27).(

I(have(many(more(things(to(say(to(you,(but(you(cannot(bear(them(

now.(But(when(He,(the(Spirit(of(truth,(comes,(He(will(guide(you(into(

all(the(truth;(for(He(will(not(speak(on(His(own(initiative,(but(

whatever(He(hears,(He(will(speak;(and(He(will(disclose(to(you(what(

is(to(come.(He(will(glorify(Me,(for(He(will(take(of(Mine(and(will(

disclose(it(to(you.(All(things(that(the(Father(has(are(Mine;(therefore(I(

said(that(He(takes(of(Mine(and(will(disclose(it(to(you((John(16:12O

15).(

In(summary(Christ(promises(the(disciples(that(the(Holy(Spirit(would(

(1)(teach(them(all(things,((2)(bring(to(remembrance(all(that(Christ(had(

said(to(them,((3)(bear(witness(to(Christ,((4)(guide(the(apostles(into(all(

truth,((5)(speak(to(them(only(the(words(of(Christ,(and((6)(disclose(to(

them(hidden(things.(Often(this(passage(is(applied(to(what(the(Holy(

Spirit(does(for(all(Christians,(namely,(illuminating(the(Scriptures(and(

guiding(us(in(decision(making.44

((

44

(For(example,(see(F.(B.(Meyer,(The!Life!of!Love((Fleming(H.(Revell,(1987),(312O13;(Everett(



However,(the(larger(and(immediate(contexts(support(a(different(

interpretation.(Christ(is(speaking(to(His(chosen(apostles,(and(He(is(

promising(them(that(the(Spirit(would(enable(them(to(recall(things(he(

“had(said”(to(them((14:26),(as(well(as(to(reveal(“what(is(to(come”(

(16:13).(In(other(words,(Jesus(promises(the(apostles(that(God’s(Spirit(

would(do(for(them(what(He(did(for(the(OT(prophets:(“but(know(this(

first(of(all,(that(no(prophecy(of(Scripture(is(a(matter(of(one’s(own(

interpretation,(for(no(prophecy(was(ever(made(by(an(act(of(human(

will,(but(men(moved(by(the(Holy(Spirit(spoke(from(God”((2(Pet.(1:20O

21).(The(Holy(Spirit(insured(that(what(the(apostles(preached(and(what(

the(apostles(wrote(was(like(the(prophetic(word(of(the(OT.(It(was(

trustworthy.(It(was(“inspired(by(God”!(That(leads(us(to(our(next(

proposition.(

3)$The$apostolic$witness$to$Christ$is$the$New$Covenant$canon.$

Now(this(is(a(significant(assertion.(We(know(that(the(OT(is(canon.(

Christ(Himself(appealed(to(the(OT(as(the(authoritative(word(of(God.(

But(are(we(to(put(the(words(of(Peter,(John,(and(Paul(on(an(equal(par(

with(Moses(and(the(prophets?(The(following(passages(answer(

affirmatively:(

Hebrews%2:154%

For(this(reason(we(must(pay(much(closer(attention(to(what(we(have(

heard([i.e.,(the(gospel],(so(that(we(do(not(drift(away(from(it.(For(if(

the(word(spoken(through(angels(proved(unalterable,(and(every(

transgression(and(disobedience(received(a(just(penalty,(how(will(we(

escape(if(we(neglect(so(great(a(salvation?(After(it(was(at(the(first(

spoken(through(the(Lord,(it(was(confirmed(to(us(by(those(who(

heard,(God(also(testifying(with(them,(both(by(signs(and(wonders(

and(by(various(miracles(and(by(gifts(of(the(Holy(Spirit(according(to(

His(own(will((Heb.(2:1O4).(

The(phrase(“so(great(a(salvation”(is(referring(to(the(gospel(of(the(

New(Covenant,(which(these(Hebrew(Christians(had(heard(and(

believed.(This(New(Covenant(gospel(was,(says(the(writer,(“first(spoken(

by(the(Lord.”(But(how(did(it(reach(the(Hebrew(Christians?(The(last(part(

of(verse(three(tells(us(the(answer:(“it(was(confirmed(to(us(by(those(

F.(Harrison,(“John,”(in(the(Wycliffe!Bible!Commentary((Chicago:(Moody(Press,(1962),(1110.(



who(heard,”(which(is(a(reference(to(the(apostles.(The(apostles(were(

first(hand(witnesses(to(the(gospel(and(they(bore(witness(to(the(gospel.(

And(notice(that(the(writer(to(the(Hebrews(places(that(apostolic(

witness(on(a(canonical(level(with(the(OT,(which(was(mediated(by(

angels!(

2%Peter%3:1,%2%

Peter,(like(the(writer(to(the(Hebrews,(clearly(places(the(apostolic(

witness(on(a(level(with(the(OT:(

This(is(now,(beloved,(the(second(letter(I(am(writing(to(you(in(which(I(

am(stirring(up(your(sincere(mind(by(way(of(reminder,(that(you(

should(remember(the(words(spoken(beforehand(by(the(holy(

prophets(and(the(commandment(of(the(Lord(and(Savior(spoken(by(

your(apostles((2(Pet.(3:1O2).(

We(have(two(canons,(says(Peter,(the(OT(canon—namely,(the(holy(

prophets;(and(the(NT(canon—namely,(the(commandment(of(the(Lord(

and(Savior(spoken(by(your(apostles.(And(since(Peter(introduced(

himself(in(this(letter(as(one(of(those(chosen(apostles,(then(that(means(

Peter(is(claiming(canonicity(for(His(own(teaching!((But(Peter(not(only(

claims(this(authority(for(himself(and(the(other(eleven.(Notice(what(he(

says(about(the(Apostle(Paul(in(a(third(passage:(

2%Peter%3:15516%

And(regard(the(patience(of(our(Lord(as(salvation;(just(as(also(our(

beloved(brother(Paul,(according(to(the(wisdom(given(him,(wrote(to(

you,(as(also(in(all(his(letters,(speaking(in(them(of(these(things,(in(

which(are(some(things(hard(to(understand,(which(the(untaught(and(

unstable(distort,(as(they(do(also(the(rest(of(the(Scriptures,(to(their(

own(destruction((2(Pet.(3:15O16).(

Clearly,(when(Peter(compares(Paul’s(letters(to(“the(rest(of(the(

Scripture,”(he(is(putting(Paul’s(writings(into(the(category(of(canon.45

(

And(this(is(no(surprise(since(the(Apostle(Paul(viewed(his(own(writings(

this(way:(

2%Thessalonians%2:15;%3:6,%14%

45

(D.(Edmond(Hiebert,(Second!Peter!and!Jude((Greenville,(SC:(Unusual(Publications,(1989),(gives(the(following(NT(passages(where(the(term(translated(“other”((loipos)(means(“of(the(same(category:(Acts(2:37;(Rom(1:13;(2(Cor(12:13;(Gal(2:13;(Phil(4:3((175).(



Now(we(command(you,(brethren,(in(the(name(of(our(Lord(Jesus(

Christ,(that(you(keep(away(from(every(brother(who(leads(an(unruly(

life(and(not(according(to(the(tradition(which(you(received(from(us(

(2(Thess.(3:6).(

If(anyone(does(not(obey(our(instruction(in(this(letter,(take(special(

note(of(that(person(and(do(not(associate(with(him,(so(that(he(will(be(

put(to(shame((2(Thess.(3:1).(

A(local(church(should(not(discipline(someone(just(because(that(

person(disagrees(with(the(pastors(of(the(church.(The(opinions(and(

sermons(of(pastors(are(not(canonical.(However,(a(NT(church(should(

exercise(church(discipline(when(someone(refuses(to(submit(to(the(

traditions(and(teachings(of(Paul,(because(Paul’s(words(are(Christ’s(

words(and(because(Christ’s(words(are(God’s(words.(Therefore,(you(

and(I(are(to(receive(the(words(of(the(Apostle(Paul(in(the(same(way(that(

the(Thessalonians(did(at(the(beginning(of(Paul’s(ministry.(

For(this(reason(we(also(constantly(thank(God(that(when(you(

received(the(word(of(God(which(you(heard(from(us,(you(accepted(it(

not(as(the(word(of(men,(but(for(what(it(really(is,(the(word(of(God,(

which(also(performs(its(work(in(you(who(believe((1(Thess.(2:13).(

Do(not(these(passages(teach(us(that(the(apostolic(witness(to(Christ(

was(to(be(treated(as(divinely(authoritative(and(canonical?(Do(they(not(

place(the(words(of(Peter(and(Paul(on(par(with(the(words(of(Moses(and(

the(prophets?(Consider(also(the(Apostle(John’s(testimony:(

1%John%4:1,%556%

Beloved,(do(not(believe(every(spirit,(but(test(the(spirits(to(see(

whether(they(are(from(God,(because(many(false(prophets(have(gone(

out(into(the(world….(They(are(from(the(world;(therefore(they(speak(

as(from(the(world,(and(the(world(listens(to(them.(We(are(from(God;(

he(who(knows(God(listens(to(us;(he(who(is(not(from(God(does(not(

listen(to(us.(By(this(we(know(the(spirit(of(truth(and(the(spirit(of(

error.(

In(this(passage(John(is(contrasting(his(witness(with(the(message(of(

the(“many(false(prophets”(who(“have(gone(out(into(the(world”((v.(1).(

According(to(John(one(the(marks(of(genuine(Christian(experience(is(the(

recognition(of(and(the(submission(to(the(true(apostolic(word—”he(

who(knows(God(listens(to(us”((v.(6).(On(the(other(hand,(if(any(one(



refuses(to(recognize(and(submit(to(the(apostolic(word,(that(person(is(

“not(from(God.”(

In(summary(these(passages(indicate(that(the(apostles(viewed(and(

expected(others(to(view(their(inspired(witness(to(the(person(and(work(

of(Christ(as(divinely(authoritative.(Just(as(Moses(and(the(prophets(gave(

us(the(OT(canon,(so(Jesus(and(his(apostles(have(given(us(the(NT(canon.(

But(there(lacks(one(more(link(in(the(chain(of(our(argument:(

4)$The$apostolic$witness$was$recorded$in$Scripture.$

Just(as(the(OT(words(of(Moses(and(the(prophets(were(written(down(

for(the(benefit(of(God’s(people(and(for(the(preservation(of(God’s(word,(

so(also,(the(NT(words(of(Jesus(and(His(apostles(were(written(down(for(

the(benefit(of(the(Christian(church.(Consider(the(following(texts:(

Therefore(many(other(signs(Jesus(also(performed(in(the(presence(of(

the(disciples,(which(are(not(written(in(this(book;(but(these(have(

been(written(so(that(you(may(believe(that(Jesus(is(the(Christ,(the(

Son(of(God;(and(that(believing(you(may(have(life(in(His(name((John(

20:30O31).(

These(things(I(have(written(to(you(who(believe(in(the(name(of(the(

Son(of(God,(so(that(you(may(know(that(you(have(eternal(life((1(John(

5:13).(

It(seemed(fitting(for(me(as(well,(having(investigated(everything(

carefully(from(the(beginning,(to(write(it(out(for(you(in(consecutive(

order,(most(excellent(Theophilus;(so(that(you(may(know(the(exact(

truth(about(the(things(you(have(been(taught((Luke(1:3O4).(

So(then,(brethren,(stand(firm(and(hold(to(the(traditions(which(you(

were(taught,(whether(by(word(of(mouth(or(by(letter(from(us((2(

Thess.(2:15).(

And(regard(the(patience(of(our(Lord(as(salvation;(just(as(also(our(

beloved(brother(Paul,(according(to(the(wisdom(given(him,(wrote(to(

you,(as(also(in(all(his(letters,(speaking(in(them(of(these(things,(in(

which(are(some(things(hard(to(understand,(which(the(untaught(and(

unstable(distort,(as(they(do(also(the(rest(of(the(Scriptures,(to(their(

own(destruction((2(Pet.(3:15O16).(

Write(in(a(book(what(you(see,(and(send(it(to(the(seven(churches((

(Rev.(1:11).(



And(He(who(sits(on(the(throne(said,(“Behold,(I(am(making(all(things(

new.”(And(He(said,(“Write,(for(these(words(are(faithful(and(true((

(Rev.(21:5).(

We(have(sought(to(argue(for(a(NT(canon(on(the(basis(of(Scripture.(

First,(we(pointed(out(that(the(OT(canon(anticipates(and(presupposes(a(

NT(canon.(Second,(the(NT(identifies(Jesus(Christ(as(both(the(source(and(

subject(matter(of(that(NT(canon.(Furthermore,(the(Bible(indicates(that(

Christ’s(NT(canon(would(be(mediated(to(the(church(through(the(

inspired(teaching(and(writings(of(the(apostles.(Therefore,(according(to(

Scripture,(the(“inscripturated”(apostolic(witness(to(Christ(is(the(

church’s(New(Testament(canon.(

There(are(two(lose(ends(that(we(need(to(tie(up.(

3.%What%about%the%NT%books%written%by%non5apostles?%%

Traditionally,(the(church(has(accepted(the(writings(of(Mark,(Luke,(

James(and(Jude(on(the(basis(of(their(close(connection(either(with(

Christ(or(with(the(Apostles.(For(example,(many(of(the(early(fathers(

identify(Mark(as(Peter’s(assistant(who(wrote(the(2nd(Gospel(under(the(

Apostle’s(supervision.46

(Luke’s(close(association(with(Paul(is(

documented(in(the(first(person(plural(pronouns(throughout(Acts,(as(

well(as(several(references(by(Paul(in(the(epistles((Col(4:14;(2(Tim(4:11;(

Philemon(24).(James(and(Jude(were(brothers(of(Christ((Jude(1)(and(

closely(associated(with(the(apostles((1(Cor(5:7;(9:5).47

((

Thus,(the(theory(is(that(these(men(wrote(under(the(close(

supervision(of(one(or(more(of(the(apostles.(I(believe(this(theory(is(

probably(correct.(However,(by(itself(it(does(not(answer(the(question(of(

inspiration.(We(accept(the(apostle’s(writings(because(we(believe(they(

46

(Origen(is(quoted(by(Eusebius(as(saying(that(it(was(“Mark(who(wrote([the(second(Gospel](

in(accordance(with(Peter’s(instructions.”(Eusebius(also(quotes(Clement(of(Alexandria(who(

writes,(“The(occasion(for(writing(the(Gospel(according(to(Mark(was:(after(Peter(had(publicly(

preached(the(word(in(Rome(and(by(the(Spirit(had(proclaimed(the(gospel,(those(present,(being(

many,(urged(Mark,(as(one(who(had(followed([Peter](for(a(long(time(and(remembered(what(he(

had(spoken,(to(write(down(what([Peter](had(said.(He(did(this(and(distributed(the(Gospel(

among(those(who(had(asked(him([for(it].(When(Peter(learned(about(it,(he(neither(strongly(

forbad(it(nor(promoted(it.”(Eusebius(traces(this(tradition(to(Papias(who(was(a(disciple(of(the(

Apostle(John.(Tertullian(asserts,(“The(Gospel(which(Mark(published(may(be(affirmed(to(be(

Peter’s(whose(interpreter(Mark(was.”(Finally,(Ireneaus(also(confirms(that(“Mark,(the(disciple(

and(interpreter(of(Peter,(himself(also(handed(down(to(us(in(writing(what(had(been(preached(

by(Peter.((Cited(in(William(Hendricksen,(The!Gospel!of!Mark((Baker,(1975),(pp.(10O13.(47

(It(is(also(possible(that(James(actually(qualified(to(be(an(apostle((1(Cor.(15:7).(



were(inspired(writers.(But(do(we(have(any(biblical(evidence(that(there(

were(other(inspired(writers(besides(the(Apostles?(

I(believe(we(do.(In(his(first(epistle(to(Timothy,(the(Apostle(Paul(

equates(a(passage(in(Luke’s(Gospel(with(“Scripture.”(After(instructing(

Timothy(that(elders(are(worthy(of(financial(remuneration((5:17),(Paul(

gives(two(citations(in(5:18,(which(he(identifies(as(“Scripture”:(“For(the(

Scripture(says,(“YOU(SHALL(NOT(MUZZLE(THE(OX(WHILE(HE(IS(

THRESHING,”(and(“The(laborer(is(worthy(of(his(wages”((1(Tim.(5:18).(

The(first(citation(is(from(Deuteronomy(25:4.(But(the(second(citation(

is(a(saying(of(Christ(and(is(found(in(the(Gospel(of(Luke(10:7.(Since(Paul(

does(not(cite(the(saying(as(oral(teaching(but(as(Scripture,(he(evidently(

viewed(Luke’s(gospel(as(a(product(of(inspiration.(And(traditionally,(the(

church(has(assessed(the(writings(of(Mark,(James,(and(Jude(in(the(same(

way.(

This(raises(the(question(of(exactly(how(did(the(Holy(Spirit(

superintend(the(writing(of(these(nonOapostles.(One(way(we(might(

answer(this(question(is(to(view(these(men(in(the(capacity(of(an(

amanuensis((i.e.,(a(secretary(employed(to(take(dictation).(We(have(

precedent(for(such(a(role(in(certain(NT(Epistles(such(as(Romans(and(1(

Peter.(Although(the(human(authors(of(these(epistles(are(identified(as(

the(Apostle’s(Paul(and(Peter,(neither(of(these(Apostles(actually(wrote(

the(letter.(According(to(Romans(16:22(a(man(named(Tertius(actually(

wrote(the(Epistle(to(the(Romans.(And(according(to(1(Peter(5:12,(Peter(

actually(dictated(the(contents(of(his(letter(to(a(man(named(Silvanus.(

Thus,(we(may(say(that(Tertius(and(Silvanus(were(inspired(writers(of(

NT(Scripture.(But(in(their(case,(we(would(probably(apply(the(Spirit’s(

work(of(inspiration(in(a(more(indirect(way.(The(Spirit(inspired(them(

indirectly(through(the(Apostles(who(supervised(them.(

The(question(is(whether(we(should(view(the(Spirit’s(mode(of(

inspiring(Mark,(Luke,(James(and(Jude(in(the(same(way.(Did(the(Spirit(

inspire(these(men(indirectly(through(one(of(the(Apostles?(That(is,(did(

these(men(merely(function(in(the(capacity(of(an(amanuensis(to(the(

apostles?(Or(did(they(exercise(more(independence(and(enjoy(a(more(

direct(influence(of(the(Spirit’s(supervision?(



I(believe(there(are(good(reasons(for(viewing(the(Spirit’s(work(of(

inspiration(as(operating(in(a(more(direct(way(upon(these(men.((

First!of!all,(writings(are(not(normally(attributed(to(the(amanuensis(but(to(the(actual(author.(If(Mark(and(Luke(merely(functioned(as(

secretaries(to(Peter(and(Paul,(it(seems(strange(that(tradition(would(

append(their(names(to(writings(that(were(authored(by(Apostles.((

Second,(Luke’s(preface(to(his(Gospel(does(not(depict(the(process(of(writing(in(terms(of(dictation(but(in(terms(of(Luke’s(own(research(

(Luke(1:1O4).((

Third,(according(to(passages(like(Acts(2(and(1(Corinthians(14,(the(gift(of(NT(prophecy(was(granted(to(others(besides(the(Apostles((cf.(

Acts(13:1O4;(21:10,(11;(1(Cor(11,(12).((

Fourth,(according(to(Ephesians(2:20(and(3:5,(the(church(is(built,(historically(and(doctrinally,(not(only(upon(the(foundation(of(apostolic(

teaching,(but(also(upon(the(foundation(of(“the(prophets”—a(reference(

to(NT(prophets.48

((

For(these(reasons,(I(believe(we(are(warranted(to(conclude(that(

Mark,(Luke,(James(and(Jude(exercised(the(prophetic(gift(and(authored(

inspired(Scripture(under(the(direction(and(supervision(of(the(Apostles.(

We(have(established(that(the(NT(canon(consists(of(the(written(

apostolic(witness(to(Christ.((

4.%How%do%we%determine%which%NT%writings%are%authentic%and%apostolic?%

Admittedly,(here(is(where(the(question(of(the(NT(canon(becomes(a(

bit(more(complicated.(With(the(OT(we(had(an(identifiable(collection(of(

Jewish(books(called(the(“Law”(and(the(“Prophets”(and(the(“Writings,”(

which(Jesus(Christ(endorsed(as(canonical.((

But(the(NT(writings(were(completed(and(gathered(together(long(

after(Christ’s(ascension(to(heaven.(We(know(from(our(study(that(the(

OT(presupposes(and(anticipates(a(NT(canon.(We(know(that(the(New(

Covenant(gospel(of(Christ(is(to(be(that(NT(canon.(And(we(know(that(

the(apostles(were(commissioned(to(transmit(that(NT(canon.(But(how(

do(we(know(which(of(the(first(century(books(and(letters(bearing(

48

(As(a(result,(it(would(probably(be(better(to(speak(of(the(“apostolic(and(prophetic(New(

Covenant(witness.”(



witness(to(the(gospel(actually(belong(in(the(NT(canon?(To(state(it(

differently;(why(has(the(Christian(church(traditionally(accepted(the(27(

books(in(our(NT(as(canonical?(

Church(theologians(have(attempted(to(answer(these(questions(by(

producing(a(list(of(criteria(by(which(the(NT(books(were(accepted(into(

the(canon.(Sometimes(these(lists(of(criteria(differ(in(length(and(

terminology.(But(I(prefer(to(organize(them(under(three(general(

headings.(These(three(headings(are(distinct(yet(interrelated(and,(in(a(

certain(sense,(inseparable.(

1)$Does$this$book$in$any$sense$claim$to$be$the$word$of$God?$

This(is(the(question(of(“selfOattestation.”(Does(this(book(or(epistle(

make(any(claims(to(be(divine(revelation?(That(doesn’t(require(a(verse(

that(asserts,(“This(is(divine(revelation.”(However,(if(the(book(claims(in(

somewhat(to(be(prophecy(or(if(it(claims(to(be(apostolic(witness,(then(it(

is(claiming(to(be(canonical.(This(is(why(the(early(church(traditionally(

employed(the(criterion(of(“apostolicity”(in(seeking(to(determine(

whether(a(book(should(be(included(in(the(NT(canon.(And,(as(we(saw(

above,(that(criterion(was(expanded(to(include(some(of(the(close(

associates(of(the(apostles(like(Mark(and(Luke.(

2)$Does$this$book$bear$the$marks$or$qualities$of$divine$revelation?$

This(is(the(question(of(“selfOauthentication.”(Does(a(NT(writing(

exhibit(the(qualities(and(characteristics(of(divine(revelation?((

Traditionally,(this(has(been(called(the(criterion(of(“orthodoxy.”(

Unfortunately,(the(term(orthodox((meaning,(“straight(teaching”)(is(a(

little(too(ambiguous.(Orthodox(compared(to(what?(For(this(reason,(we(

need(to(develop(a(longer(list(of(criteria(in(order(to(define(what(we(

mean(by(“orthodoxy.”(

I(prefer(to(address(the(question(this(way:(the(Bible(claims(to(be(

“GodObreathed,”(divine(revelation”((2(Tim.(3:16).(What(kind(of(

qualities(should(characterize(divine(revelation(and(in(particular,(NT(

revelation?(

! NT(revelation(should(be(truthful(and(consistent.(! NT(revelation(should(be(theological.(! NT(revelation(should(be(ChristOcentered.(



! NT(revelation(should(be(redemptive(in(focus.(

These(are(some(of(the(qualities(that(characterize(divine(revelation.(

It(is(important(to(view(these(qualities(in(connection(with(the(selfO

attesting(claims(of(the(NT.(Both(are(inseparable(components(of(NT(

canonicity.(Moreover,(there(is(a(third(criterion:(

3)$Does$the$Spirit$confirm$the$authenticity$and$authority$of$the$Bible?$

This(is(the(question(of(the(Spirit’s(authentication(of(Scripture.(In(one(

sense,(this(is(the(final(or(ultimate(criterion.(To(use(the(language(of(the(

Second(London(Baptist(Confession(of(Faith,(chapter(1,(section(5:(

Our(full(persuasion(and(assurance(of(the(infallible(truth,(and(divine(

authority([of(Scripture],(is(from(the(inward(work(of(the(Holy(Spirit(

bearing(witness(by(and(with(the(Word(in(our(hearts.(

It(is(vital(to(note(that(our(SpiritOproduced(conviction(does(not(make(

the(Bible(the(Word(of(God.(It’s(not(that(the(Spirit(somehow(makes(the(

Bible(God’s(word(for(you(and(for(me.(The(Bible(is(God’s(word(whether(

we(believe(it(or(not.(But(it(is(the(Holy(Spirit(who(enables(us(to(

recognize(fully(and(to(embrace(completely(the(books(of(Scripture(as(

God’s(sacred(word.(

Here(is(where(the(testimony(of(the(Church(plays(an(important(part(

in(identifying(the(canon(of(the(NT.(We(may(view(the(Church’s(

testimony(concerning(the(NT(canon(as(the(collective(manifestation(of(

the(Holy(Spirit’s(work(in(the(hearts(of(believers(enabling(them(to(

recognize(the(word(of(God.(Christ(promised(to(be(with(His(church(and(

to(build(His(church(until(the(end(of(the(age((Matt(16:18;(28:20).((

Furthermore,(Jesus(promised(to(give(His(people(“the(anointing”(of(

His(Spirit(so(that(they(might(discern(the(truth((1(John(2:20,(27).((Thus,(

the(Apostle(John(can(write,(“We([the(Apostles](are(of(God.(He(who(

knows(God(hears(us;(he(who(is(not(of(God(does(not(hear(us”((1(John(

4:6).(Therefore,(we(would(expect(the(church(to(come(to(a(consensus(

regarding(which(NT(books(bear(the(marks(of(canonicity.(In(the(words(

of(Roger(Nicole,(“The(consensus(of(the(churches(on(the(NT(is(an(index(

and(evidence(of(the(Holy(Spirit’s(guidance.”49

(For(this(reason,(we(

should(give(proper(importance(to(the(testimony(of(the(church.(

49

(“The(Canon(of(the(New(Testament,”(Journal!of!the!Evangelical!Theological!Society(40:2(



We(are(not(arguing(that(the(church(makes(the(NT(books(canonical.(

The(church(does(not(confer(canonical(status(upon(the(NT,(anymore(

than(a(court(Bailiff(confers(judicial(status(upon(a(judge(when(he(

announces,(“Here(comes(the(Judge.”(The(Bailiff(does(not(make(him(the(

judge(by(some(authoritative(declaration.(He(simply(announces(or(

acknowledges(an(already(selfOevident(fact:(“the(judge(is(coming.”(In(

the(same(way,(the(church(does(not(make(the(books(of(the(NT(

canonical.(The(church(simply(recognizes(and(acknowledges(an(already(

selfOevident(fact,(namely,(“Here(are(the(books(of(the(NT(canon.”(

That(leads(us(to(enquire(whether(the(church(has(come(to(a(general(

consensus(regarding(which(NT(books(bear(the(marks(of(canonicity.(

Not(surprisingly,(a(comprehensive(survey(of(church(history(

demonstrates(that(the(church(as(a(whole(has(come(to(a(general(

consensus.(The(Eastern(Orthodox(Church,(the(Roman(Catholic(Church,(

and(the(Protestant(churches(have(virtually(been(unanimous(in(their(

view(of(the(NT(canon.50

(

Timeline%of%the%Church’s%Recognition%of%the%Canon%TIMELINE%OF%THE%CHURCH’S%RECOGNITION%OF%THE%NEW%TESTAMENT%CANON%

%

AD%40%to%100% The'New'Testament'books'are'written.'''

AD%140% Marcion,'a'businessman'in'Rome,'distinguished'between'the'god'of'the'Old'Testament'(Yahweh)'who'was'an'angry'vengeful'deity,'and'the'true'God'of'the'

(June(1997).(

50

(See(the(following(historical(surveys:(B.(F.(Westcott,(A!General!Survey!of!the!History!of!the!Canon!of!the!New!Testament!(London,(1874);(R.(Laird(Harris,(Inspiration!and!Canonicity!of!the!Bible:!An!Historical!and!Exegetical!Study!(Grand(Rapids:(Zondervan,(1969);(Bruce,(The!Canon!of!Scripture((Downers(Grove:(InterOVarsity,(1988).(Of(course,(Luther’s(doubts(about(the(Epistle(of(James(are(something(of(an(anomaly.(In(his(Preface!to!the!New!Testament((1522),(he(writes,(“In(a(word(St.(John’s(Gospel(and(his(first(epistle,(St.(Paul’s(epistles,(especially(Romans,(

Galatians,(and(Ephesians,(and(St.(Peter’s(first(epistle(are(the(books(that(show(you(Christ(and(

teach(you(all(that(is(necessary(and(salvatory(for(you(to(know,(even(if(you(were(never(to(see(or(

hear(any(other(book(or(doctrine.(Therefore(St.(James’(epistle(is(really(an(epistle(of(straw,(

compared(to(these(others,(for(it(has(nothing(of(the(nature(of(the(gospel(about(it”((Luther’s!Works,(35:362).(Later,(in(1542,(Luther(participated(in(a(discussion(concerning(the(Roman(Catholic(arguments(against(the(doctrine(of(justification(by(faith(alone.(In(an(apparent(fit(of(

frustration(or(crude(humor,(Luther(asserted,(“That(epistle(of(James(gives(us(much(trouble,(for(

the(papists(embrace(it(alone(and(leave(out(all(the(rest.(Up(to(this(point(I(have(been(accustomed(

just(to(deal(with(and(interpret(it(according(to(the(sense(of(the(rest(of(Scriptures.(For(you(will(

judge(that(none(of(it(must(be(set(forth(contrary(to(manifest(Holy(Scripture.(Accordingly,(if(they(

will(not(admit(my(interpretations,(then(I(shall(make(rubble(also(of(it.(I(almost(feel(like(

throwing(Jimmy(into(the(stove([!],(as(the(priest(in(Kalenberg(did”((Luther’s!Works,(34:317).(



New'Testament'(the'Father)'who'was'a'kind'merciful'deity.''As'a'result,'Marcion'rejected'the'Old'Testament'as'scripture.''He'also'rejected'several'NT'books'and'retained'as'canonical'only'10'letters'of'Paul'and'2/3'of'Luke's'gospel.''Marcion’s'“New'Testament”'forced'the'mainstream'Church'to'consider'more'officially'and'publicly'the'question'of'the'NT'canon.'

AD%150%to%230% Montanus'and'his'followers'(Montanists)'claim'and'advocate'new'revelations,'which'further'forces'the'church'to'identify'the'parameters'of'the'NT'canon.'''

AD%200% According'to'the'Muratorian'Canon,'compiled'at'Rome'c.'AD'200,'the'NT'consists'of'the'4'gospels;'Acts;'13'letters'of'Paul'(Hebrews'is'not'included);'3'of'the'7'General'Epistles'(1_2'John'and'Jude);'and'also'the'Apocalypse'of'Peter'(a'pseudapigraphal'writing).'

AD%367% Athanasius,'Bishop'of'Alexandria,'in'his'Festal'letter'#'39'of'A.D.'367,'provides'us'with'the'earliest$extant$list'of'the'27'books'of'the'NT.'

AD%382% At'the'Council'of'Rome,'Pope'Damascus'defines'a'universal'canon'for'all'city_churches.''The'Pope'lists'the'27'books'of'the'NT'as'canonical.''

AD%397% The'Council'of'Carthage'ratifies'the'27'books'of'the'NT'canon'as'canonical.'''In'the'East,'the'canonical'process'was'hampered'by'a'number'of'schisms'(esp.'within'the'Church'of'Antioch).''

AD%1442% At'the'Council'of'Florence,'the'entire'Church'(East'and'West)'recognized'the'27'books.'This'council'confirmed'the'Roman'Catholic'Canon'of'the'Bible'which'Pope'Damascus'I'had'published'a'thousand'years'earlier.''So,'by'the'15th'century,'all$orthodox$branches$of$the$Church$were$legally$bound$to$the$same$canon.''This'is'100'years'before'the'Reformation.'

AD%1536% In'his'translation'of'the'Bible'into'German,'Luther'relocates'four'NT'books'(Hebrews,'James,'Jude,'and'Revelation)'to'an'appendix,'because'he'questions'their'canonicity.'He'was'particularly'doubtful'of'James'because'it'seemed'to'deny'justification'by'faith'alone.'His'Christ_centered'standard'for'canonicity'also'led'him'to'question'Esther,'Ecclesiastes'and'the'Song'of'Solomon.'

AD%1546% At'the'Council'of'Trent,'the'Catholic'Church'reaffirmed'once'and'for'all'the'full'list'of'27'books.'The'council'also'confirmed'the'inclusion'of'the'Jewish'Apocryphal'books.''At'Trent,'Rome'actually'dogmatized'the'canon'and'closed'it'once_for_all.'

AD%1561% The'Reformed'Belgic'Confession'recognizes'the'27'books'of'the'NT'as'canonical.'

AD%1563571% The'Anglican'Church'accepts'the'27'books'of'the'NT'as'canonical.'

AD%1647% The'Westminster'Assembly'accepts'the'27'books'of'the'NT'as'canonical.'''



Some%Practical%Lessons%

1)$Let$us$thank$God$for$the$blessing$of$a$completed$canon$including$the$final$word$and$full$revelation$of$His$Son,$the$Lord$Jesus$Christ.$

So(many(Christians(today(are(looking(for(something(more.(They(

want(another(word—another(revelation(from(God.(The(Bible(isn’t(

enough.(Brothers,(we(need(to(beware(of(such(an(attitude.(Special(

revelation(has(already(reached(its(final(goal(in(Jesus(Christ((Heb.(1O2).(

What(began(as(the(promise(of(a(“seed”(in(Genesis(has(found(its(

fulfillment(in(the(Lamb(of(God(in(the(book(of(Revelation.(Everything(

that(we(need(pertaining(to(life(and(godliness(has(already(been(granted(

to(us(through(the(knowledge(of(Jesus(Christ.(We(should(not(feel(

discontent(with(the(Bible(and(demand(that(God(give(us(dreams,(

visions,(and(miracles.(Rather,(let(us(adopt(Martin(Luther’s(attitude:(

I(have(made(a(covenant(with(God(that(he(send(me(neither(visions,(

dreams,(nor(even(angels.(I(am(well(satisfied(with(the(gift(of(the(Holy(

Scriptures,(which(give(me(abundant(instruction(and(all(that(I(need(

to(know(both(for(this(life(and(for(that(which(is(to(come.51

(

2)$The$Bible$of$the$Old$and$New$Testaments$is$our$canon$of$Scripture.$$Therefore$we$should$beware$of$those$who$would$try$to$add$or$to$subtract$from$this$canon$

Early(in(the(history(of(the(church,(there(was(a(tendency(to(subtract(

from(the(canon(of(Scripture.(One(example(of(this(can(be(seen(in(the(

teachings(of(a(heretic(named(Marcion(who(lived(in(the(middle(of(the(

2nd

(century.(Marcion(taught(that(the(god(of(the(OT(and(the(God(of(the(

NT(are(two(different(Gods.(As(a(result,(he(rejected(the(OT(as(canonical(

Scripture.(Marcion(also(found(much(of(the(NT(to(be(full(of(OT(quotes(

and(OT(in(flavor.(Therefore,(he(began(to(exclude(certain(NT(writings(

from(the(canon.(The(result(was(that(Marcion(ended(up(with(a(canon(of(

Luke’s(gospel(and(10(Pauline(letters.(And(he(even(went(on(to(edit(

these(writings.52

(

But(the(Lord(used(Marcion’s(evil(for(the(good(of(the(church.(Now(the(

church(was(forced(to(make(a(list(of(those(writings,(which(were(

51

(I(have(taken(this(quote(from(a(pamphlet(and(have(not(yet(located(it(in(Luther’s(writings.(

52(F.(F.(Bruce,(The!Canon!of!Scripture,(134O44.(



considered(to(be(authentic(and(apostolic.(As(a(result,(various(lists(of(

canonical(writings(were(produced(that,(for(the(most(part,(faithfully(

represented(the(OT(and(NT(canons(we(have(today.(((

However,(it(wasn’t(long(before(the(opposite(error(crept(into(the(

church.(Besides(the(books(of(Scripture,(there(were(other(books(that(

were(circulated(among(the(churches(because(of(their(historical(and(

devotional(qualities.(These(books(were(referred(to(as(the(Apocrypha.(At(first(these(books(were(generally(not(considered(to(be(inspired.((

However,(they(were(often(bound(together(with(the(copies(of(the(

Scripture.(After(time,(as(we(saw,(they(were(raised(to(the(status(of(

“deuteroOcanonical,”(and(the(inspired(books(became(the(“protoO

canonical.”(Finally,(in(1546(the(Roman(Catholic(Church(placed(those(

books(which(were(once(considered(uninspired(on(an(equal(par(with(

the(inspired(books.53

(In(1642,(the(Eastern(Orthodox(Church(followed(

suit.54

(The(end(result(was(tendency(to(raise(the(mere(teachings(of(men(

to(a(level(with(the(word(of(God.(((

Brothers,(we(need(to(beware(of(this(error.(This(is(the(danger(of(

Study(Bibles.(Have(we(not(met(professing(Christians(who(have(tended(

to(view(Scolfield’s(notes(much(like(Catholics(have(treated(the(Pope’s(

decrees?(If(I(might(strike(a(little(closer(to(home,(this(is(the(danger(of(

Reformed(Confessionalism.(In(the(words(of(my(church(constitution,(I(

regard(the(1689(London(Baptist(Confession(of(Faith(as(“an(excellent,(

though(not(inspired,(expression(of(the(teaching(of(the(Word(of(God.”(

The(Confession(is(“excellent,”(but(it’s(“not(inspired.”(It’s(not(even(

“deuteroOcanonical”!((((

Thus(though(we(may(love(our(Confession(and(though(we(may(love(

great(literature(from(the(Puritan(tradition,55

(we(must(never(raise(these(

fallible(writings(to(the(level(of(inspired(canonical(Scripture.(The(Bible(

and(the(Bible(alone(is(our(canonical!authority(for(faith(and(life((see(2LCF(1.10).(((

53(Bruce,(op(cit.,(104O05.(

54(Ibid.,(82.((

55(Think(of(John(Bunyan’s(The(Pilgrim’s(Progress(or(Foxe’s(Book(of(Martyrs.(



3)$We$need$to$always$remember$that$the$canon$of$Scripture$is$not$just$a$list$of$books,$but$it$is$our$rule$for$faith$and$life.$

The(canon(is(not(merely(something(to(study(and(admire.(It’s(

something(we(must(obey.(Remember(Paul’s(exhortation,(“So(then,(

brethren,(stand!firm(and(hold!to(the(traditions(which(you(were(taught,(whether(by(word(of!mouth!or(by(letter(from(us”((2(Thes.(2:15).(Apostolic(tradition(is(binding—even(for(the(21

st

(Century(Christian(

today!(Remember(again(the(words(of(1(John(4:6:(“We(are(from(God;(he(

who(knows(God(listens!to!us;(he(who(is(not(from(God(does(not(listen(to(us.”(The(mark(of(a(genuine(believer(is(obedience(to(the(canon!(The(

mark(of(an(unbeliever(is(a(refusal(to(submit(to(the(apostles!(And(God(

doesn’t(take(that(lightly!(((cf.(Hebrews(2:1O4;(10:28O31).(((

Brothers,(are(we(“standing(firm”(in(the(faith(once(delivered(to(the(

saints?(Are(we(listening(obediently(to(the(Old(and(New(Testament(

canons(of(Scripture?(May(the(Lord(help(us(to(be(doers(of(the(word(and(

not(hearers(only!(

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